Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford

If you are a baseball parent waiting on the MLB Draft, the wait is the hard part — and rushing it is the mistake. MLB agent Matt Hannaford breaks down what actually happens in the months and weeks before draft day, so you know what to do when a team starts testing your number. Most families think a scout in the stands means their player is on the radar. Matt explains why that depends entirely on which scout is watching. There is a chain of command behind every pick: the area scout who is boots on the ground gathering information, the regional cross-checker who ranks your player against an entire region, the national cross-checker who covers the whole country, and finally the scouting director and sometimes the general manager. If the only scouts ever watching your son are area scouts, you are not getting drafted in the first three rounds — no matter how the spring season goes. You will also learn why you do not have to attend every pre-draft workout you are invited to. Matt walks through the call he had with a scouting director who told him, honestly, to send his player to a different workout — proof that an invitation is not the same as real interest. He explains when a private workout is worth the flight and the money, why a combine invitation usually beats stacking individual workouts (every team is there), and how getting invited to a workout rarely raises your value by the hundreds of thousands of dollars families imagine it will. Then Matt gets into the part every family is really waiting for: signability and the signing bonus. He lays out the three ways players set their number, how the week-before-draft "big board" puts your player in play at specific picks, and how teams get creative with slot money — including the strategy used by clubs like the Milwaukee Brewers, who underpay early picks in the top 10 rounds to hand a player a much larger bonus in the 11th. He uses Austin Riley, who went to several workouts as a high school senior and still went in the first round, to show that one rough workout does not end your career. The center of the episode is leverage. Matt tells the story of a player last year who held firm on his number while a scouting director called three separate times — first trying to knock off hundreds of thousands of dollars, then 150,000 less, then 50,000 less — while the area scout called the player directly to test whether the number was real. The player got his number. Matt explains why that only ever works when the player and the family are genuinely comfortable walking away and attending college, and why the draft is not the finish line. It is the beginning. This conversation connects directly to college recruiting, the transfer portal, travel ball, and NIL decisions every baseball family is navigating right now. ABOUT THE MVA PODCAST Matt Hannaford is an MLB agent who gives you the insider playbook on college recruiting, the transfer portal, and MLB Draft decisions. The Most Valuable Agent Podcast helps parents and players navigate the system with confidence. LINKS & RESOURCES Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent MVA Website: https://www.aligndsports.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/ #MVAPodcast #MLBDraft #CollegeBaseball #SigningBonus #BaseballRecruiting

What you say to your son on the car ride home after a bad game can either build him up or push him out of the sport. MLB agent Matt Hannaford gives you the framework to get it right. In this solo Q&A episode, Matt answers three of the most-asked questions from parents and players: If you have a son who's a draft prospect, already committed to a college, and is heading into his senior year in High School, what events over the summer he should attend, what to actually say to your son after a bad game, and how to help build mental toughness in a 9-year-old who tends to melt down. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✓ How the 2026 MLB Draft timeline changes which summer events get heavily scouted (and which ones don't) ✓ Why the PG National Showcase is a prerequisite — but only if your son wants the PG All American invite ✓ The exact events that put your son in front of every decision-maker: East Coast Pro in Birmingham, Area Codes in Long Beach, the All American Game in Philadelphia ✓ The one question to ask yourself before you say anything to your son in the car ✓ Why questions outperform statements every time, and the gravity analogy that explains it ✓ How to handle dugout meltdowns at age 9 without coddling or breaking your kid ✓ The expectations and agreements conversation most baseball parents never have Matt Hannaford is a 26-year MLB agent who walks you through the summer draft event strategy first. He breaks down the WWBA in Atlanta, why the 2026 draft's mid-July timing affects which scouts show up, the PG National Showcase as the gateway to the PG All American Game, the East Coast Pro in Birmingham as arguably the most important event of the summer, the Area Codes in Long Beach as its West Coast counterpart, and the Worldwide Bat in Jupiter as the last-chance redemption event. He references conversations on this podcast with Mike Wagner (National Scouting Director, Yankees), Alex McClure (West Coast Crosschecker, Tigers), and Chris Gross (Scouting Director, Mets) for the in-home visit context. The middle of the episode is the heaviest one. Matt walks you through the car ride home — what scouts and college coaches are evaluating, what to ask yourself before you open your mouth, and why most parents are having the wrong conversation. The gravity analogy lands here: when you push, your son pushes back. The fix is questions, not statements. How does that feel? What about it is frustrating? Is now the right time, or should we talk later? Matt also reframes failure as a relationship problem — your son isn't failing, he's a human being who plays baseball, and the identity work is what separates the kids who keep playing from the ones who quit. The final question covers a 9-year-old having meltdowns in the dugout. Matt's answer is direct: at nine, the responsibility falls on the parent, and the fix is the expectations and agreements framework. Most parents have unspoken expectations and then get frustrated when the kid doesn't meet them. The fix is to articulate what mental toughness looks like at this age, get the agreement, and then hold the line. Work hard. Respect the game. No helmet throws. No disrespect. That's the deal — and if you can't commit, the family isn't going to keep committing time, money, and missed vacations to it. ABOUT THE MVA PODCAST Matt Hannaford is an MLB agent who gives you the insider playbook on college recruiting, the transfer portal, and MLB Draft decisions. The Most Valuable Agent Podcast helps parents and players navigate the system with confidence. CONNECT WITH MATT Alignd Sports Agency: https://www.aligndsports.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/ #CollegeBaseball #MLBDraft #BaseballParents #YouthBaseball #TravelBaseball

You're probably spending too much on travel baseball for the wrong reasons — and the people telling you it's necessary are the ones who benefit when you do. MLB agent Matt Hannaford answers three listener questions that hit the same nerve every travel ball parent shares: how much is too much, when does specialization actually make sense, and what do you do when a coach is treating your kid unfairly. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - Why no college coach or pro scout is watching your 11-year-old play — and what that means for where to spend your money - The hierarchy most travel ball families have backwards: exposure, competition, development — and why flipping it is the only path that actually works - When sport specialization makes sense (and the warning sign that it's happening too early) - The Tommy John surgery reality nobody tells you about — and why a 13-year-old with a torn UCL has a problem his parents don't understand yet - How to talk to a youth coach about playing time without your kid paying the price Matt opens with a question from Steve, a parent who just paid $3,200 for summer travel ball for his 11-year-old son and is staring down another $7,000 of expenses this year. Matt's answer reframes the entire spending conversation. No college coach is scouting 11-year-olds. No pro scout is scouting 11-year-olds. The only people scouting 11-year-olds are other travel ball programs trying to recruit your kid into the next paid tier. From there, Matt walks through the development-first hierarchy and explains why it has to come before competition and exposure, not after. He uses Brandon Nimmo as a real example — a first-round MLB draft pick who came out of Wyoming and barely attended any showcase events in high school. The lesson: if your son is good enough, they will find him. The events most parents are told they have to attend are not the gatekeepers parents think they are. Rick's question follows: his 10-year-old's travel coach is telling the family to drop soccer and focus on baseball year-round. Matt pulls from his own multi-sport background — hockey, baseball, basketball, football — and from the Aspen Institute research on youth burnout to explain why early specialization is being sold to families who do not need it. He shares a story from his own client base: a travel ball coach whose player tore his UCL after a parent ignored a rest warning and took the kid to play in another team's tournament. The doctor's recommendation: put baseball down for six years. The final question comes from Sean, whose son was moved to batting ninth after one fielding error — despite hitting .380. Matt names what is actually happening here. Coaches do not move hitters down for a defensive error. That is a coach with an axe to grind, not a coaching decision. He gives parents and high school players a step-by-step framework for the conversation: do not complain about lineup spot, ask what specifically the coach needs to see for trust to be earned back, and hold the coach accountable to his own answer. The episode covers college recruiting timing, the WWBA tournament in Atlanta, Perfect Game events in Jupiter, and what USA Baseball selection actually looks like. ABOUT THE SHOW Matt Hannaford is an MLB agent with 26 years representing Major League Baseball players. He gives you the insider playbook on travel baseball, college recruiting, the transfer portal, and MLB Draft decisions so you can navigate the system with confidence and stop being sold to. CONNECT WITH MATT Alignd Sports Agency: https://www.aligndsports.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/ #TravelBaseball #YouthSports #MLBDraft #BaseballParent

Almost every pro baseball player Matt Hannaford represents has the same wound — and it traces back to their relationship with their dad. In this live event, MLB agent Matt Hannaford and high performance coach Jo Martinez Killian sit down with parents and young athletes to walk through the pattern Joe has seen in nearly every major league locker room he's ever worked in, and what actually breaks the cycle before it starts. Subscribe to the channel for the insider playbook on what pro scouts, agents, and performance coaches actually see in elite players — and what most parents get wrong long before the draft conversation ever happens. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - Why Norway produces more elite athletes per capita than any country in the world — and the sports rules they enforce before age 13 - The three-word reframe that took one of Matt's clients from AA to a home run on his first major league pitch - How to turn a complaint into a vision you both agree on — the exact script - The difference between expectations and agreements, and why expectations are a pathway to resentment - Why "I don't wanna see my kid struggle" is the instinct that steals the one thing they actually need from you Matt reads a letter from the father of a division one SEC pitcher with a zero ERA who is draft-eligible — a letter that made Matt call Joe the same day and say we have to do this live. The dad writes that his son, at 20, told him flat out he cannot relax around him anymore because every conversation turns into criticism. The dad's response is the line that frames the entire episode: there are times I wish he would just step away from baseball so he can feel how much I love him and how it has nothing to do with performance. Jo breaks down the framework he uses with pro athletes across MLB, NBA, NHL, and NCAA locker rooms. Where there is no vision, the people perish — but most parents are leading from complaints instead of vision, and from expectations instead of agreements. He walks through the four-step move that turns an expectation like "I expect you to respect me" into an agreement both parent and kid actually own. He names the fawning pattern coaches see in kids who have learned to pacify the adult in front of them instead of saying what they actually want. Matt shares the moment Jo called him out on a client call — Matt jumped in to answer a question Jo was still working through with the player, and Jo told him afterward: you stole his growth. The question was his weight to lift. That single exchange is the frame for the entire conversation with youth athletes and their parents. The instinct to take struggle away from your kid is the instinct that leaves them unable to carry anything hard later. Struggle is the gift. The discomfort is where the identity gets built. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — The Letter From a Division One Dad 6:30 — Norway's Sports Rules Before Age 13 7:50 — His Dream Not Mine: Jo's Soccer Story 26:59 — Why Success Is Also Poison 37:59 — You Stole His Growth: The Struggle Is the Gift 40:38 — Complaints Are Vision in Disguise 1:02:42 — Expectations Lead to Resentment 59:15 — The Three-Word Vision That Got Zach Cole Called Up 1:19:31 — Disempowered vs. Empowered Language 1:30:51 — Baseball Does Not Make a Good God ABOUT MATT HANNAFORD Matt Hannaford is the president and CEO of Aligned Sports Agency and the host of the Most Valuable Agent podcast. Over 20+ years he has negotiated more than $2 billion in MLB contracts, representing Manny Machado, Albert Pujols, Joey Votto, Austin Riley, and Liam Hendriks, with prior exposure to Barry Bonds, Mike Piazza, and Trevor Hoffman. He gives you the insider playbook on college recruiting, the transfer portal, and MLB Draft decisions. LINKS & RESOURCES Alignd Sports Agency: https://www.aligndsports.com/ Episode with Jo: https://youtu.be/rR-yZoLEQ3s The Dad Effect: https://youtu.be/6opkFoZD-sY #CollegeBaseball #MLBDraft #YouthSports #BaseballParents #MostValuableAgent

Struggling to get recruited for D1 baseball? Subscribe and watch — an MLB agent with 26 years of experience answers the recruiting questions every family is asking. You throw 87 mph. You've been to showcases. You've sent 50 emails. And still — nothing from D1 programs. Sound familiar? In this Q&A episode of The Most Valuable Agent Podcast, MLB agent Matt Hannaford breaks down exactly why the "just do more showcases" advice is failing you, what D1 coaches are actually looking for, and the honest conversations you need to have before your recruiting window closes. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✓ Why attending more showcases won't fix your recruiting problem — and what will\ ✓ The one question you should be asking your coach that almost nobody asks ✓ Why 87 mph is NOT the reason D1 schools aren't calling you back ✓ How the transfer portal changed the D2-to-D1 pathway (and why that's good news) ✓ What to do when 50 emails to college coaches go unanswered In this episode, Matt fields real questions from families navigating the college baseball recruiting process — a junior in North Carolina throwing 87 with zero D1 interest, a dad in Arizona whose son committed D2 but dreams of D1, and an Ohio family that has sent dozens of emails and attended camps with nothing to show for it. Matt pulls from 26 years as an MLB agent to deliver the kind of direct, honest recruiting advice that most travel ball coaches won't give you. He challenges the showcase-obsessed culture, explains how the transfer portal has rewritten the D2-to-D1 playbook, and walks you through the exact conversations you need to have with coaches and with your own family to figure out where you truly stand. If you're a parent trying to help your son get recruited, or a player wondering why the phone isn't ringing, this episode is the reality check you didn't know you needed. HAVE A RECRUITING QUESTION? DM Matt on Instagram or email Matt@TheMostValuableAgent.com → Subscribe for weekly episodes helping you make smarter baseball decisions for your family. CONNECT WITH MATT HANNAFORD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/ Website: https://www.aligndsports.com/ Email: Matt@TheMostValuableAgent.com LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PLATFORM Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-valuable-agent-with-matt-hannaford/id1757332100 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1R8ibnKyGJFnKqX3g60O4x?si=5349e0edf5e8441c #MVAPodcast #D1Baseball #CollegeRecruiting

Should your son play baseball year round? MLB agent Matt Hannaford breaks down why scouts and college coaches actually WANT to see multi-sport athletes — and why the pressure to specialize at 10-12 years old is doing more harm than good. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✓ Why MLB scouts and college recruiting coordinators attend players' OTHER sports ✓ The real reason year-round baseball pressure exists (and who profits from it) ✓ At what age specializing actually makes sense — and why 10-12 is too early ✓ How a first-round MLB draft pick used soccer skills to become an elite shortstop ✓ The one question to ask your son before making any decision about sports ——— Year-round baseball has become the default for families with talented young players. Travel baseball tournaments run 12 months a year, travel ball coaches pressure families to commit to every event, and the fear of falling behind pushes parents to drop every other sport by age 10. But here's what 25 years as an MLB agent has taught Matt Hannaford: the players who make it to the highest levels are overwhelmingly multi-sport athletes. Scouts don't just evaluate your son's swing. They evaluate his athleticism, leadership, footwork, and competitive instincts — skills that come from playing football, basketball, soccer, and other sports during the off-season. Matt shares the story of Michael Garciaparra (sound familiar? He's Nomar's brother), a first-round pick by the Seattle Mariners — who played four sports in high school. The scout who drafted him credited his soccer background for the athleticism that made him a standout shortstop. This episode tackles the three forces pushing families toward early specialization: travel baseball organizations that demand year-round commitment, high school coaches who discourage second sports, and the rising MLB draft signing bonuses that make parents feel like every missed tournament is a missed opportunity. Matt's advice is clear: if your son is 10-15 years old and wants to play multiple sports, let him. The decision to specialize can wait until 16-18 when you actually have enough information to make it wisely. ——— ▶ Watch next: https://youtu.be/mheMuyG3IDg ▶ Full playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5H4dTL0Gs4tsaF8gTNfIV_KiKbwntzjm ——— ABOUT THE HOST Matt Hannaford is a 25-year MLB agent who has navigated the college recruiting process, MLB Draft, and professional baseball landscape for hundreds of families. The Most Valuable Agent Podcast gives parents and players the insider knowledge they need to make smarter decisions about travel baseball, recruiting, and player development. 📩 DM Matt with questions for future episodes: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/ #MVAPodcast #YouthBaseball #TravelBaseball #MultiSportAthlete #CollegeBaseball

How should parents act at baseball games? MLB agent Matt Hannaford shares the honest truth about what your game-day behavior is doing to your son — and his recruiting future. If you've ever felt the urge to yell coaching advice from the stands or voice your frustration about the lineup, this episode will change the way you show up to every game. Matt breaks down exactly why negative sideline behavior backfires — and what pro scouts and college recruiters actually think when they see it. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✓ Why negative comments at games are never received the way you intend them ✓ The real question to ask yourself before you yell anything from the stands ✓ How pro scouts and college recruiters evaluate parent behavior — and why it matters starting at age 10 ✓ Where the line is between supportive parenting and adding pressure ✓ The military analogy that reframes how you should present yourself at every game In this solo episode of the Most Valuable Agent Podcast, MLB agent Matt Hannaford tackles one of the most common questions he gets from travel baseball parents: how should I act at my son's games? Drawing from his own experience as a former player and years of representing professional athletes, Matt delivers a direct and honest message — during a game, your only role is to be supportive. Matt explains why even well-intentioned coaching advice shouted from the stands has the opposite effect of what parents want. He reveals that constructive criticism delivered during competition is almost never received productively, and shares how he's watched parent-player relationships suffer because of poor timing. The key insight: most parents yell because they need to get something off their chest — not because it will actually help their son. Perhaps most importantly, Matt pulls back the curtain on how the baseball industry evaluates families. Pro scouts actively befriend parents to assess what they're dealing with. College recruiting coordinators notice which parents are hotheads. And the universal belief in scouting circles? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If you're the parent who can't control yourself in the stands, it will directly impact your son's ability to be recruited, scouted, and drafted. Whether your son is 10 years old and just starting travel baseball or a high school prospect being evaluated by colleges, this episode gives you a clear framework for how to show up as the parent your son needs you to be. Check the timestamps below to jump to the section most relevant to you. SUBSCRIBE to the Most Valuable Agent Podcast for weekly insider content on travel baseball, college recruiting, and the MLB Draft. LINKS & RESOURCES → Related Episode — You Are Not the Hero of Your Son's Baseball Journey: https://youtu.be/jcw9Fluw6LY → Area Scout Interview Episode: https://youtu.be/4ZxkY3iohb4 → Full MVA Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5H4dTL0Gs4tsaF8gTNfIV_KiKbwntzjm → Follow Matt Hannaford: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/ #MostValuableAgent #TravelBaseball #BaseballParents #YouthBaseball #CollegeRecruiting

Is your son being recruited for college baseball? This is the NIL conversation his future depends on. Subscribe for weekly college baseball insights. If you're a parent trying to decode scholarship offers, revenue sharing, outside deals, and cap space — or your son is deciding between the portal and the draft — Georgia's Deputy Athletic Director just laid it all out. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✅ The 4 buckets of money available to your son — and why most families only know about 2 of them ✅ How to tell the difference between a real NIL offer and an inflated promise that will never clear the system ✅ The one question you should ask every school before your son signs anything ✅ Why chasing portal money after one year could cost your son his degree, his reputation, and future deals ✅ What schools actually think when agents call with big numbers — and how to tell if yours is helping or hurting Your son's college decision isn't just about the biggest number on the table. Will Lawler has been negotiating these deals from inside one of the top athletic departments in the country since 2018. He's watched the landscape shift from 11.7 scholarships to a $20.4 million institutional cap — and he's here to tell you exactly how the money actually moves. In this episode, Will walks you through the four distinct financial buckets every college baseball player can access: incidental benefits, scholarships, institutional revenue sharing, and outside endorsement deals. He explains how the House Settlement created a cap that schools must manage across every sport — and why that means the baseball dollars available to your son are directly shaped by football, basketball, and Title IX decisions happening behind the scenes. Matt and Will go deep on how NIL Go now vets every outside deal for legitimate business purpose and fair market value. If a school is promising your son big outside dollars, you'll learn why those promises mean nothing unless they can explain exactly which companies, which deals, and how they'll clear the system. Will reveals the question every family should ask: "Have you ever not delivered on what you promised?" The conversation turns personal when Matt explains why he can never bluff a school — and how one lie from an agent can destroy 25 years of reputation. If you're choosing an advisor for your son, this is the filter you need. Whether your son is a high school senior weighing offers, a portal candidate evaluating his options, or a draft-eligible player deciding between pro ball and another college year — scroll to the timestamps below and jump to the section that matches your situation. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Opening & Georgia baseball opening day 01:28 Will's path from the SEC office to Georgia 01:47 How the landscape changed (what parents need to know) 05:04 The 4 buckets of money: what your son can actually get 08:08 From 11.7 scholarships to 34 roster spots 10:58 Revenue sharing vs. outside deals: why it matters to your wallet 13:28 How NIL Go vets deals (and why some promises won't clear) 15:43 Why football gets the biggest slice — and what that means for baseball 18:07 The part families forget: player development still matters most 21:30 The House Settlement: what it changed and what's coming next 25:30 What needs fixing in the system right now 26:28 What makes a great agent (from the school's side of the table) 28:43 The ONE question to ask before your son signs 33:54 What every agent should understand about cap space 36:39 Matt flips the script: are agent numbers real or inflated? 38:27 Why one lie ends an agent's career 40:18 Every conversation is a negotiation (the story every player needs to hear) 44:40 When players break commitments — and what schools really think 46:47 Is the transfer portal good or bad for your son? 50:03 3 things Will would tell his best friend's family about recruiting 54:24 Rapid fire: Why Georgia, long-term thinking, college athletics in 2030 LINKS & RESOURCES → Watch the full MVA Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5H4dTL0Gs4tsaF8gTNfIV_KiKbwntzjm → University of Georgia Baseball: https://georgiadogs.com/sports/baseball If your son is going through this process right now, drop your biggest question below — Matt reads every comment. 👇 #MostValuableAgent #CollegeBaseballNIL #BaseballRecruiting

75% of top-drafted pitchers never make it to the big leagues. If your son is a pitcher, this episode could change everything about how you approach his development. Subscribe for weekly baseball career insights. Former first-round pick Justin Orenduff had the GM of the Dodgers watching him pitch in Double-A. Then his shoulder gave out. That injury sent him on a decade-long quest to understand why some pitchers stay healthy and others break down. His answer is backed by data from 1,100 drafted pitchers and published with Duke University. ✅ Why 75% of top-drafted pitchers never reach the big leagues — and only 2–3% become everyday starters ✅ How college innings count against a pitcher's professional career before it even starts ✅ What the DVS score is and how it quantifies injury risk on a 0–24 scale ✅ The free training tool every youth pitcher already has access to that nobody talks about ✅ Why velocity and longevity don't have to be mutually exclusive Justin Orenduff was a first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers who had his career derailed by a shoulder injury. After surgery, his surgeon told him something that changed his entire mindset: the way he threw the baseball caused the injury. That single phrase launched Justin into years of research, eventually partnering with Duke University to publish a formal study on pitching mechanics and injury risk. His study tracked the top three pitchers drafted and signed by every MLB organization since 2013 — over 1,100 pitchers total. The findings were staggering: nearly half arrived in professional baseball already carrying arm injuries from their amateur careers. College pitchers who needed surgery had accumulated only around 320 total innings, and that number includes their college workload. The professional runway before a major injury was shockingly short. From that research, Justin built DVS — the Delivery Value System — a biomechanics scoring model that rates a pitcher's delivery from 0 to 24 based on injury risk and mechanical efficiency. Pitchers like Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw, and Mariano Rivera all scored above 16. Justin himself scored a 7 before his surgery and climbed to 17–20 after learning how to move differently — throwing harder at 35 years old than at any point in his professional career. The conversation also dives into the USPBL, a four-team developmental league where Justin runs pitcher development. Unlike traditional independent baseball, the USPBL prioritizes skill development days, individualized plans, and a culture where committing to growth matters more than winning that night's game. So far, 52 players have signed with MLB organizations and 7 have reached the big leagues. Matt and Justin also tackle the uncomfortable reality behind youth pitching culture: training programs that chase velocity to validate their own business models, not the pitcher's long-term career. And they explore a simple thought experiment that every baseball family should consider: if you had to choose between a coach who promises 100 mph and a coach who promises health, which would you pick? Scroll down to the timestamps to hear why that's the wrong question. If this episode changed how you think about pitcher development, share it with a baseball family who needs to hear it. RESOURCES → DVS Baseball: https://dvsbaseball.com → Justin on X/Twitter: @JustinOrenduff Matt Hannaford is a Major League Baseball agent with 25+ years of experience advising families on baseball career decisions. Justin Orenduff is a former first-round MLB Draft pick, pitching biomechanics researcher, and head of pitcher development for the USPBL.

Most baseball families think "insurance" only becomes relevant after a player signs a pro contract — but the truth is, disability insurance is already shaping decisions in high school recruiting, NIL negotiations, and college roster building. In this episode of The Most Valuable Agent, MLB agent Matt Hannaford sits down with David Brookbank, co-founder of Income Protection Consultants (IPC), one of the most trusted independent voices in the disability insurance space for elite athletes. David has spent 30+ years inside disability policy structure, claims, and underwriting — and he's also deeply plugged into sports law and the business side of college athletics through Arizona State's sports law ecosystem. Together, they break down what disability insurance actually is (and what it isn't), why "loss of value" is the most misunderstood term in amateur baseball, and how families can avoid the biggest mistake: listening only to the person selling the policy. You'll learn the real layers of coverage (Permanent Total Disability, Critical Injury, Temporary Total Disability), how policy language can completely change whether a claim gets paid, why illness claims can be bigger than injury claims, and how universities are now using disability policies as a tool to attract and retain draft-level talent. If you're a parent, player, or coach trying to understand what happens if he gets hurt — and how to protect a future before the draft/NIL money shows up — this episode gives you the roadmap. Subscribe for weekly insight on player development, recruiting, and the business of baseball — with the truth families rarely hear early enough. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN • What disability insurance is in sports — and why it exists • The 3 core layers of coverage: PTD vs Critical Injury vs Temporary Total Disability • Why most policies cover athletes 24/7, not just during games • The biggest misconception: why writers and families wrongly call everything "loss of value" • How Tommy John/UCL coverage varies dramatically based on policy wording • Why "required within 30 days" vs "performed within 30 days" can decide a claim • Hidden fine print that can void a payout (ex: % of season missed requirements) • The real claim rates David sees across hundreds of athletes each year • How universities handle insurance options (and why they can't "direct" one policy) • Why disability insurance is becoming part of NIL and revenue-share negotiations • How high school draft prospects use disability coverage as a college decision lever • What premiums can look like for pitchers — and why pitchers are the most expensive to insure • Why policy honesty matters: applications, medical records, and avoiding claim denial ABOUT DAVID David Brookbank is the co-founder of Income Protection Consultants (IPC), a specialty consulting firm that analyzes and advises on disability insurance policies for elite athletes across high school, college, and professional sports. David began his career in disability insurance over three decades ago and now focuses on independent policy review, education, underwriting guidance, and claims navigation — without selling the policies himself. He holds a master's in legal studies with a concentration in sports law and contract law and is deeply connected to the sports business ecosystem through Arizona State. ABOUT MATT HANNAFORD Matt Hannaford is a 25-year MLB agent and founder of Aligned Sports. He has negotiated historic contracts, represented MVPs and All-Stars, and now delivers weekly insight on player development, recruiting, and the business of baseball through The Most Valuable Agent podcast. CONNECT WITH MATT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/ Website: https://www.aligndsports.com/YouTube (subscribe for weekly insight): https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent #YouthBaseball #TravelBaseball #BaseballParents #MLBDraft #NIL #DisabilityInsurance #TommyJohn #CollegeBaseball #MostValuableAgent #BaseballBusiness

Most parents want the roadmap — the blueprint that turns a young athlete into a confident, motivated, successful player. But very few families truly understand what the journey demands emotionally, mentally, relationally, and financially. In this episode of The Most Valuable Agent, Matt sits down with MLB All-Star Austin Riley and his parents, Mike and Elisa Riley, for an unfiltered, start-to-finish conversation about development, failure, trust, and perspective — from youth baseball to the World Series and beyond. Mike and Elisa explain why they always measured progress over promotions, how constant communication removed regret from hard decisions, and why they accepted that parts of a "normal" childhood would be missed — without ever losing alignment as a family. Austin opens up about early pro struggles, going 0-for-23 with 18 strikeouts, getting sent back to Triple-A after big league camp, and learning that failure is a skill that must be developed, not avoided. He shares how routine, patience, and learning from veterans helped him survive — and thrive — at the highest level. The conversation moves through injuries, physical evolution, learning how to train his body, and why setbacks ultimately led to him being in the best physical shape of his life. The episode closes with gratitude, favorite baseball memories, rapid-fire insights, and the lesson that ties everything together: Trust the process. This episode is essential listening for parents navigating youth baseball, recruiting, pro dreams, setbacks, injuries, pressure, and the business of sports — and a reminder that development is long, messy, and worth it when trust stays intact. Subscribe for weekly insight on player development, recruiting, and leadership lessons for parents raising athletes. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN • Why progress matters more than promotions or timelines • How communication eliminated regret for the Riley family • Why missing "normal" childhood moments doesn't mean failure • What early pro failure actually teaches players • How 0-for-23 became a foundation moment • Why panic is more damaging than struggle • How routine separates players who last • What demotions and service-time decisions really mean • How injuries forced Austin to truly learn his body • Why setbacks often create the best versions of players • How trust is built between parents, players, and agents • What it's like turning down $100M+ — and why they did it • Why parents must stop stressing and enjoy the journey • How gratitude reframes success at every level • Why "trust the process" isn't cliché — it's survival ABOUT AUSTIN RILEY Austin Riley is an MLB All-Star third baseman for the Atlanta Braves. Drafted out of high school, Austin developed through the minor leagues before becoming one of the game's most consistent hitters. Known for his even-keeled demeanor, work ethic, and professionalism, his journey reflects resilience through failure, mastery of routine, and trust in long-term development. ABOUT MIKE & ELISA RILEY Mike and Elisa Riley are the parents of MLB All-Star Austin Riley. Mike, a former college baseball player, emphasized fundamentals, routine, and progress over outcomes. Elisa provided balance, perspective, and emotional grounding — reminding families that the journey moves fast and should be enjoyed. Together, they model how families can support elite development without panic, pressure, or regret. ABOUT MATT HANNAFORD Matt Hannaford is a 25-year MLB agent and founder of Aligned Sports. He has negotiated historic contracts, represented MVPs and All-Stars, and now delivers weekly insight on player development, recruiting, and the business of baseball through The Most Valuable Agent podcast. CONNECT WITH MATT HANNAFORD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/ Website: https://www.aligndsports.com/YouTube (subscribe for weekly insight): https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent #YouthBaseball #TravelBaseball #BaseballParents #MLBDevelopment #AustinRiley #TrustTheProcess #FailureIsDevelopment #MostValuableAgent

Most parents want the roadmap — the blueprint that turns a young athlete into a confident, motivated, successful player. But very few people have lived all sides of the journey. In this episode of The Most Valuable Agent, Matt sits down with someone who has: Kevin Griffin — • Head Softball Coach at Belhaven University • Associate Athletic Director • Former college & semipro baseball player • And father of MLB's top minor league prospect, Connor Griffin Kevin brings a rare perspective: parent, coach, recruiter, evaluator, and someone who has navigated the pressure, opportunity, and noise of both youth baseball and youth softball. He breaks down the myths families fall for, the traps parents accidentally set, how to handle multi-sport decisions, and how he intentionally slowed down Connor's journey instead of chasing exposure. You'll learn why early recruiting hurt more than it helped, why parents should stop forcing sports onto kids, why the college sports landscape has changed for the worse, and how to protect your child's love for the game in an era that pushes them to specialize earlier and chase more. Kevin also shares the real story behind Connor's reclass, his injuries, draft process, the home visits, and how failure shaped who he is. This episode is packed with insights for both softball and baseball families navigating development, recruiting, and the emotional side of youth sports. Subscribe for weekly college recruiting strategy, baseball development insight, and leadership lessons for parents. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN • Why parents must stop forcing sports — and how to spot true passion • The biggest myth about Division III softball (and why scholarships aren't what you think) • How early specialization hurts athleticism, confidence, and longevity • Why playing too many games and not enough practice is destroying development • The difference between good exposure and harmful overexposure • Why parents must treat each child differently — and why "fair" is not "equal" • What college softball recruiting really looks like behind the scenes • How NIL has changed college sports — and not for the better • Why attitude matters more than talent in the recruiting process • The real story of Connor Griffin's reclass, injury, draft pressure, and development • How home visits work — and why families must set boundaries • The #1 parenting mistake that damages the parent–athlete relationship • Why kids play to please their parents — and how that affects behavior, confidence & burnout ABOUT KEVIN GRIFFIN Kevin Griffin is the Head Softball Coach and Associate Athletic Director at Belhaven University. He has coached for over 20 years, developing nationally ranked programs and helping athletes grow on and off the field. He is also the father of MLB's top minor league prospect, Connor Griffin, giving him a rare dual perspective into both youth sports development and the professional scouting world. ABOUT MATT HANNAFORD Matt Hannaford is a 25-year MLB agent and founder of Aligned Sports. He has negotiated historic contracts, represented MVPs and All-Stars, and now delivers weekly insight on development, scouting, and the business of baseball. CONNECT WITH KEVIN GRIFFIN Email: kgriffin@bellhaven.edu CONNECT WITH MATT HANNAFORD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/ Website: https://www.aligndsports.com/ YouTube (subscribe for weekly coaching): https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent #YouthBaseball #TravelSoftball #TravelBaseball